Latch-type knitting machine needle



Dec. 29, 1970 R. BUCK 3,550,401

LATCH-TYPE KNITTING MACHINE NEEDLE Original Filed Dec. 19, 1966 Roamt? BUCK,

lNl ENTOR.

3,550,401 LATCH-TYPE KNITTING MACHINE NEEDLE Robert Buck, Eberhard Str. 8, Rottenburg (Neckar), Germany Original application Dec. 19, 1966, Ser. No. 602,725, now Patent No. 3,426,551, dated Feb. 11, 1969. Divided and this application Sept. 24, 1968, Ser. No. 762,074 Claims priority, application Germany, Dec. 23, 1965, B 85,124 Int. Cl. D04b 35/04 US. Cl. 66-121 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The needle shank, in the direction towards the hook, is formed with a throat and angled, with respect to the upper edge, in a direction away from the axis of the needle shank, the upper edge of the shank and the upper edge of the latch, when the needle is closed, presenting an essentially aligned, straight surface to improve sliding of the loop over the needle.

The present invention relates to knitting needles, and more particularly to latch-type needles, and is a divisional application of my application Ser. No. 602,725, filed Dec. 19, 1966 now Pat. No. 3,426,551.

Difficulty has been experienced in transfer of the loop, as it slides over the needle with the latch closed. If the loops drags on the needle, particularly if such drag occurs unevenly, the knitted fabric will not present a smooth appearance. In case the lag is excessive, the knitted fabric may miss a stitch and a hole may result.

SUBJECT MATTER OF THE PRESENT INVENTION Briefly, the nedle is formed so that the lower edge of the shank, in the direction towards the hook, is angled away from the axis of the shank, so that the latch, when closed, can present an aligned, straight surface together with the shank. Deviation of the lower edge of the shank, in the region of the hook, from a straight line, that is angling it away from its major axis, causes least interference with the formation of the loop, since the point of largest height of the needle, that is of greatest resistance of sliding, will be at the hook where it is closest to the previously formed stitch.

The shaft is angled off at a point starting at the throat, at the lower, or under edge of the needle, the throat being a region approximately as far as to the length of the latch, or more, from the pivot point of the latch with the shank. The needle can then be constructed such that the upper edge of the latch will be in line, or substantially in line with the upper edge of the shank.

The single figure illustrates a side view of a latching needle in accordance with the present invention, with the tongue closed.

United States Patent Stem or shank 210, a portion only of which is shown, extends to a throat region 213 Starting approximately at that throat region, the lower edge as seen at 210 is angled away from the major axis of the needle and extends in an essentially straight line from a straight lower edge of the needle shank at the throat. The tongue 215 is closed. The upper edge of the tongue 215 is, in general then an extension of the upper edge 210 of the shank, and is aligned with the shaft or angled with respect thereto only very slightly, as seen by the chain-dotted line B. The needle is formed in general in such a manner that the height of the needle, at its intermediate part 216 where the latch is connected to the shank (as well known in the art) in general corresponds to the height of the hook 211 (shown exaggerated in the drawing) inclusive of the hook end 215 of the latch 215.

A needle as constructed in accordance with the drawing provides for unusually simple sliding of the loop over the needle, and over the latch, thus resulting in finer and more uniformly knitted goods. The needle in accordance with the present invention avoids substantial and rapid increase in needle height particularly in the region Where the latch is hinged to the needle, so that the loop which is closing the latch need not overcome an additional change in direction of the surface over which it slides.

I claim:

1. Knitting needle having a shank (210) ending in a hook (211) and having a latch (215) extending from the shank wherein:

the upper edge of the shank (210 and the upper upper end of the hook end (215 of the latch (215), when the needle is closed, are essentially aligned, and

the needle shank (210) is formed with a throat (213 the lower edge of the needle shank from the throat (213 forward toward the hook (211) extending in an essentially straight line from a straight lower edge of the needle shank at the throat and angled with respect to the upper edge of the shank (210 and the straight lower edge at the throat in a divergent direction.

2. Needle according to claim 1 wherein the throat (231 of the needle is located approximately beneath the hook end (215 of the latch (215) when the latch is open.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 119,651 10/1971 Roper 66l22 2,699,053 1/1955 Noe 66-121 FOREIGN PATENTS 189,875 12/1922 Great Britain 66121 W. CARTER REYNOLDS, Primary Examiner 

